Bottle filling and capping machine.



No. 690,488. Patented Ian. 7, I902.

T. L. VALERIUS.

BOTTLE FILLING AND GAPPING MACHINE.

(A lcaton led b 23 1901 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet Ii' I Dv Ill

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T. L. VALERIUS.

BIIIT'TLE FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE.

(Application led Feb. 23, 1901.)

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BOTTLE FILLING AND GAPPING MACHINE.

(Application Bled Feb. 23, 1901.)

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(Application led Feb. 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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T. L. yVALERIUS.- V BUTTLE FILLING AND CAPPINGMAGHINE. l (Application ined Feb. 23, 1901.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIIEODORE L. VALERIUS, OF'FORT'ATKINSON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CREAMERY PACKAGE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE -FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,488, dated anuary '7, 1902.

Application filed February 23, 1901. Serial No. 48,505. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, THEoDoRE L. VALERIUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Atkinson, in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle Filling and Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the production of an improved machine for filling and capping bottles. The mechanism herein shown and described is adapted for use in dairies for filling the form of bottle commonly used in retailing milk. It is clear, however, that the parts of the machine may be modif fied so that any form of bottle may be filled and capped. Y

In the embodiment herein shown of this invention the bottles are supported upon a table and carried around on said table in radial pairs by a freely-rotatable turn-table. Aliquid-receptacle is mounted over said turntable and has two downwardlyprojecting lling-spouts adapted to coincide in turn with the mouths of each radial pair of bottles upon said fable. At about ninety degrees from said liquid-receptacle a vertical framework is supported over said table, having the mechanism for inserting caps into the necks of the filled bottles. A foot-'lever projects outward from underneath the table in a place convenient of access for the operator of the machine. A downward pressure upon the foottreadle raises the empty bottles into engagement with the filling-spouts and the filled bottles into coincidence with the capping mechanism. A further depression of said footlever opens the filling-spouts and causes the capping mechanism to deliver caps into the spouts over the mouths of said filled bottles, and a further depression of said lever causes the plungers to descend into said spouts and force said caps into the mouths of the filled bottles. After each full depression of the After the bottles have passed the latter spouts they are removed from the table by a helper standing at the rear of the machine, and empty bottles are put in their places, so as to be presented in their turn to the filling-spouts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a bottle filling and capping machine embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the filling mechanism and its operative means. Fig. 3 is a similar section through the capping mechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlarged central section th rough the means for presenting the bottle centrally t0 the capping mechauism. Fig. 4. is an enlarged vertical central section taken through the filling mechanism, showing the filling-valves in an open position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical central section taken through the capping mechanism, showing the same at a time in the operation when the plungers have just seated the caps in the throats of the filled bottles. Fig. 6 is a detail in vertical central section taken through the upper end of the central vertically-reciprocating rod. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on .dotted line 7 7 of Fig. 3, showing the slide for feeding the caps singly from each of the magazine-tubes, where a quantity of' said caps is retained, to a position tobe engaged by the capping-plungers and pressed firmly into place in the throats of' the filled bottles.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the construction of this filling and capping mechanism I provide a table A, having the top A and the four supporting-legs A2, rigidly fixed to said top. These legs are joined together intermediate their ends by the braces A3, which braces are provided with the central opening A4 and the depending ears A5, the latter having the pivotal` bolt A extending between them. A foot-lever AT is pivotally mounted upon said bolt A6 and at its forward end is provided with the treadle AS. At its rear end it has a pivotal engagement with the upwardly-extending connecting-rod A9. The upper end of this connecting-rod is pivotally attached to a second transverse lever A111, the forward end of which lever is pivotally supported upon the depending lug A11, fixed to the under side of the table-top A'. Atubular standard B extends upward through a central opening in the table-top A', rising to a considerable distance above said tabletop. Just above the table-top the standard B is provided with the circular turn-table B', having openings vB2 for the reception ot bottles. These openings are arranged in pairs on radial lines, and the turn-table is rotatably mounted upon the tubular standard B. Near the upper end of this standard B and at'- ixed thereto is a receptacle C for containing the milk with which the bottles are to be filled, and extending downward fromv the lower side of said receptacle are two `fillingspouts C', communicating with the interiorl of said liquid-receptacle by means of suitable openings in the bottom of the latter. The bottom end of each filling-spout is provided with a closure-plug C2, of inverted-co ne shape, and has surrounding its lower end a ring C3, of rubber or other elastic material, whereby a tight joint with the mouth of the bottle is obtained. Each of the two cone-shaped closures is provided with a tubular stem C4, extending upward through the filling-spouts and through stationary bearings C5, secured at their ends to the inner sides of the receptacle C. Above said bearings said tubular stems are surrounded by springs C5 and near their upper ends with the collars C7. Upon said co1- lars and extending between the two stems is a cross-bar C5, adapted to receive a downward pressure, which when sufficient to compress the springs C5 opens the lling-spouts and permits liquid to run from the receptacle C through said spouts. The springs C5 normally hold the closure-plugs firmly against their seatsin the lling-spouts and prevent the escape of the contents ot the liquid-receptacle C. The tubularstems C4 communicate with the interior of the bottles being filled and afford means for the escape ot air therefrom.

The capping mechanism (shown in Fig. 3) is supported upon a vertical framework D, extending atan angle of about ninety degrees from the liquid-receptacle C. rlhis framework comprises the two horizontal arms D' and D2, the ear D3 extending upward from the former and the vertical rod D4 connecting the outer endsvof said horizontal arms. Tubular cap'- magazines D5 are supported between the two arms D/ and D2, being open at their upper ends. The lower ends ofthe magazines communicate withaslide-opening DG in the arm D2, which opening extends lengthwise of said arm. A slide-plate D7 is adapted to be reciprocated in said opening, and this slide-plate has twolloles D8 through it, which are intended to register with the lower ends ot the magazines when the slide-plate is at onev extremity ot` its movement and with the openings D11 through the arm D2, one of which openings is adjacent to each of the cap-magazines. The openings D9 are each provided with the annular raised rims D10 for centering the bottle to be capped. Just below the slide-plate D7 the walls ot each of the openings D9 contract to a diameter alittle less than that of the cap, so that when the cap is delivered by the coincidence of the openings D8 in the slide-plate with the openings D9 the cap will he dropped from said plate to said contracted portion of the opening D9. Two plungers D11 are provided with stems D12, extending upward through suitable guide-openings in the upper arm D'. A cross-bar D15 surrounds one of the cap-magazines D5, is guided thereon, and is affixed to the stems D12 of the plungers D11. This cross-bar is provided with a stud D11, and the arm D has asimilar stud D15 directly above said stud D14. T he crossbar D13 is adapted to have avertical reciprocatory movement -on its: support ing cap-magazine. The slide-plate D7 is provided with a loop D15 for receiving the end of its operating-lever, to be later described herein. The rims D10, as hereinbefore stated, are for causing the bottles to exactly register with the cappingmechanism. The outerrimisintended to center the bottle approximately with the opening D9; but as the 'tops of the bottles are not always regular in form orconcentric with the respective throats thereof it has been found necessary to provide the inner rim, which is adapted to fit within the throat of the bottle, and thereby to cause the opening D9 and said throat to exactly registeri A lever E is pivotally supported upon the upwardly-extending earDS. At its outer end this lever is pivotaily connected with'a cambar EQ having the L-shaped cam-openings Eg and E3 therein, which openings receive the studs D11 and D15, respectively. The lower end of the cam-bar E' projects through the loop D15 of the slide-plate D7. The inclination of the lower branch of the opening E2 of the cam-bar E causes the lower end ot' said lever to be moved from left to right, Fig. 3, and this movement reciprocates the slide D7 in the same direction. The vertical length ot' the opening E2 is somewhat less than that of theopening E5, so that after said cam-bar is moved sidewise it may have a further vertical reciprocatory movement to depress the plungers D11 and force the caps into the throats of the bottles. This movement is limited by the difference between the vertical length of the openings E2 andE5.

A vertically-reciprocating rod F extends through the central opening Atin the braces A3 and upward through tubular standard B. At its upper end this rod is provided with the transverse opening F for the reception of a lever F2, pivotally mounted at F3 and having a Vfriction-roller F4at its outer end adapted to' bear upon the cross-bar C8, hereinbefore described. Above said elongated opening F is a similar opening F5, and in this opening is provided a friction-roller F5 and a stop-pin F7, the distance between tg roller and the IOO IIO

pin being suicient to receive theend of the lever E. The plane of the opening F is at right angles to that of the opening F5. The vertically-reciprocating rod Fis supported between the trunnions F8 of the transverse lever A10. It will be seen that by means of this connection a downward pressure upon the treadle A8 will raise the reciprocating rod F, open the milk-delivery spouts C', and operate the capping mechanism. Two arms G and G', formed integral and extending at right angles to each other, are ixed upon the vertically-reciprocatory rod F. The arm G is provided with two openings G2 for receiving the elevatorrods, to be later described, for the filling mechanism. The arm G is likewise provided with openings GS for receiving similar elevator-rods, to be later described, for the capping mechanism.

H represents the elevator-disks for the filling mechanism. They lie normally in depressions in the top A of the table A. Each is provided with a stem H', extending downward through the openings G2 of the arm G, and is provided with a fixed collar H2 below said arm, also with a fixed collar H3 intermediate its ends, and with a coil-spring H4 vbetweensaid last-mentioned collar and the arm G. When the arm is raised, the springs H4 are compressed, raising the bottles to be filled into contact with the rubber rings C3 of the illing-spouts, where they are held by the action of the springs H4.

I refers to the elevator-disks for the capping mechanism; I, to the rods; I2, to the collars fixed at the lower ends of said rods beneath the arm G'; I3, to the collars fixed intermediate the ends of said rods, and I4 to the compression-springs between said lastmentioned collars and the upper side of the arm G. An upward movement of the vertically-reciprocatory rod F thus raises the arms G and G', compresses the elevatorsprings H4 and I4, and raises the empty bottles into coincidence with the illing-spouts and the lled bottles into coincidence with the capping mechanism.

In operation bottles are placed in the openings B2 of the turn-table B and said turntable rotated by the hand of the operator until the first pair of empty bottles is brought directly beneath the illing-spouts C. The foot of the operator is then placed upon the treadle A2, and pressure being exerted thereon the vertically-reciprocating rod F is lifted by reason of the connection between the footlever AT and said rod. The elevation of this vertically-reciprocating rod raises the elevator-disks H, lifting the empty bottles so that their mouths are brought into engagement with the rubber rings C3 of the filling-sponts. Further depressing the treadle A8 raises the vertically-reciprocating rod F until the lower end of the opening F engages the lever F2.

The upward movement of the rear end of this lever depresses the forward end thereof, it bearing upon the cross-bar OS and compress- Vof the filled bottle.

ing the springs C6, which surround the tubular stems O4 of the cone-shaped closures O2, opening the iillilig-spouts, and permitting the liquid in the receptacle C to be discharged into the empty bottles. As soon as the bottles are filled the pressure upon the treadle is withdrawn, and the elevator mechanism carries the bottles back upon the table-top A. The turn-table B' is rotated by the hand of the operator until the second pair of bottles is brought underneath the tillingspouts,when the same operation is repeated and these bottles filled. The third set is likewise filled. When the fourth set of bottles is brought under the filling-spouts, the first set has been advanced so that they stand directly beneath the capping mechanism. A downward pressure upon the foot-treadle A8 now raises the first pair of filled bottles into engagement with the capping mechanism and the empty bottles into engagement with the filling mechanism. The upward movement of the reciprocating rodF produces a downward movement of the cam-lever E, which, by reason of the studs D14 and D15, is moved from left to right, Fig. 3, moving the slidable plate D7 so that its openings Ds are shifted from beneath the cap-magazines to a position directly below the plungers. When they reach this position, the cap in each of the openings Ds is dropped into the opening in the arm D2, where it is retained directly above the mouth The cam-lever E continues in its downward movement until the upper end of the L-shaped opening E2 engages the stud D14, when the plungers D11 are depressed through a distance equal to the difference between the vertical lengths of the L- shaped openings E2 and E3. During this capping operation the illing-spouts have been opened and lmilk from the receptacle C has been permitted to run into the empty bottles, the foot-lever A8 being held depressed until said bottles are filled. As soon as saidv bottles are filled the foot-lever is released and the mechanism assumes its first or normalV position. The turn-table B is again rotated to bring the next succeeding pair of empty` bottles beneath the lling-spouts, and this rotation places the filled and capped bottles in the rear of the capping mechanism, from whence they are removed by an assistant, who stands back of the machine to remove filled and capped bottles and to replace them with empty bottles. The cap-magazines D5 are supplied with caps through their open upper ends. The thickness'of the slidable plate D7 is about equal to the thickness of the cap, so that only one closure is delivered at a time.

I claim as my invention- 1. Ina capping-machine, in combination, a table for the bottles; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality ofclosures; a movable plate having means for carrying one closure from the magazine to apoint adjacent to the throat of the bottle to be capped; a plunger forseat- IOO IIO

ing the closure in the throat of the bottle; a pivoted cam-bar having a cam-opening therein; a stud fixed with relation to the frame of the machine,adapted to lie within said cam-openingand move said cam-bar on its pivot; means for connecting the cam-bar with the plunger to reciprocate the latter; and means for connecting the cam-bar with the plate to move said plate.

2. In a capping-machine, in combination, a table for the bottles; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of closures, mounted' over said table; a slidable plate having an opening therein,which opening is adapted to be moved into coincidence with the closure-magazine, also into coincidence with the throat of the bottle to be capped; a plunger for seating the closure in the throat of the bottle; a lever pivotally supported upon the frame of the machine; a treadle for moving said lever; a cambar pivotally supported near the outer end of said lever, said cam-bar having a cam-opening therein; a stud iiXed With relation to the frame of the machine, adapted to lie in said opening to move said cam-bar on its pivot; means for loosely connecting the cam -bar with the plunger to reciprocate the latter; and means for connecting said cam-bar with the plate to slide said plate.

3. In a capping-machine, in combination, ar

rotatable table for the' bottles; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of closures; a slidable plate having an opening adapted to be placed in coincidence with the magazine, also with the throat of the bottle; a plunger for seating the closure in the throat of the bottle; a cam-bar pivotally mounted at one of its ends and having two cam-openings therein, one of which openings is shorter than the other; a stud fixed With relation to the frame of the machine, adapt-ed to lie in the longer of said cam-openings; means for longitudinally reciprocating said cam-bar; a stud fixed with relation to said plunger, adapted to lie within the shorter of the cam-openings in the cambar; and means for connecting the lower end of said cam-bar with the sliding plate.

4. In a capping-machine, in combination, a table for the bottles; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of closures; a slidable plate having means for carrying one closure from the magazine to a point adjacent to the throat of the bottle to be capped; an elevator mechanism for raising said bottle; a plunger for seating the closure in the throat of the bottle; a cam-bar pivotally mounted near one of its ends, and having two cam-openings therein; a stud xed With-relation to the frame of the machine, adapted to lie in one of said openings; a stud fixed with relation to the plunger, adapted to lie in the other of said openings; means for connecting the lower end of the cam-bar with the sliding plate; means for longitudinally reciprocating said cambar; and means for operating said elevator mechanism.

5. In a capping-machine, in combination, a

table for the bottles; means for moving Vthe bott-les upon said table; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of closures; a slidable plate having an opening adapted to be placed in coincidence with the magazine, also with the throat of the bottle to be capped; a plunger for seating the closure in the throat of the bottle; an elevator mechanism for raising a bottle into engagement with the capping mechanism; a lever pivotally supported upon the frameof the machine; a vertically-reciprocating rod for moving said lever; a treadle for -reciprocating said rod; a cam-bar pivotally mounted near the free end of said lever, said cam-bar having two cam-openings therein, one of which openings is shorter than the other; a stud fixed with relation to the frame of the machine, adapted to lie in the longer of said cam-openings, to oscillate said cambar upon its supporting-pivot; a stud fixed with relation to the plunger, adapted to lie in the shorter of said cam-openings; and means for connecting the lower end of said cam-bar with said sliding plate.

6. In a capping-machine, incombination, a table for the bottles; means for moving the bottles upon the latter; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of closures; a slidable plate having an opening adapted to be placed into coincidence with the magazine, also with the throat of the bottle to be capped; a plunger for seating the closure in the throat of the bottle; an elevator mechanism comprising an elevator-disk, a stem for said disk, a spring mounted on said stem, and an' arm adapted to raise said disk through said spring; a camlever adapted to move the slidable plate and to reciprocate said plunger; and means for moving said cam-lever and for operating said elevator mechanism.

7. In a capping-machine, in combination, a table for the bottles; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of closures; a movable plate having means for carrying one closure from the magazineto a pointadjacent to the throat of the bottle to be capped; a plunger for seating the closure in the throat of the bottle; a cam-lever having I shaped openings therein; a stud fixed with relation to said table, adapted to lie in one of said openings; a stud fixed with relation to the plunger, for lying in another of said L-shaped openings; means for longitudinally moving said cam-lever; and means for connecting the lever with the mov able plate.

8. In a capping-machine, in combination, a table for the bottles; a perforated turn-table rotatably mounted over said table, for moving the bottles upon the latter; a magazine adapted to hold aplurality of closures; a slidable plate having an opening adapted to be placed in coincidence with the magazine, also with the throat of the bottle to be capped; a plunger for seating a closure in the throat of a bottle; a cam-lever having L-shaped openings therein; a stud fixed with relation to said table, adapted to lie in one of said openings;

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a stud iixed with relation to the plunger, for

lying in the other ot` said L-shaped openings; a lever having a pivotal connection with said cam-lever; a tilting lever having a pivotal connection with said cam-lever; a reciprocating rod for moving said tilting lever; a treadle for operating said reciprocating rod; and means forconnecting the cam-lever with the slidable plate.

9. In a capping-machine, in combination, a table for the bottles; a perforated turn-table rotatably mounted over said table, adapted to move the bottles upon the table in radial pairs; two magazines adapted to hold a plurality of closures; a slidable plate having an opening adapted to be placed in coincidence with each of the magazines, also with the throats of the bottles to be capped; two plungers for seating the closures in the throats of said bottles; an elevator mechanism comprising two elevator-disks, a stem for each of said disks, a spring on each ot' said stems, and an arm adapted to raise said disks by means of said springs; a tiltinglever; a cam-lever pivotally connected with the free end of said tilting lever, which cam-lever has two L-shaped cam-openings therein; a stud fixed with relation to the supporting-table, and adapted to lie in one of said L-shaped openings; asecond stud adapted to move with the plunger-rods, and adapted to engage the other of said L- shaped openings; a loop for connecting the lower end of said cam-lever with said sliding plate; a vertically-reciprocating rod having engagement with said tilting lever; a foot-lever; a treadle therefor; and a transverse lever for moving said vertically-reciprocating rod.

10. In a filling and capping machine,in combination, a table for moving the bottles; a iilling mechanism; and a capping mechanism, the latter comprising a magazine adapted to hold the closures for the bottles, a movable plate having an opening adapted to be placed in coincidence with the magazine, also with the throat of the bottle to be capped, a plunger for seating a closure, a cam-bar having a cam-opening therein, a tixedstud adapted to lie in said opening, means for connecting the cam-bar with said plate, means for connecting the cam-bar with the plunger, and means for longitudinally moving said cam-bar.

1l. In a filling and capping machine,in combination, a table for moving the bottles; a lilling mechanism; a capping mechanism, the latter comprising a magazine adapted to hold the closures for the bottles, a slidable plate having an opening adapted to be placed in coincidence with the magazine, also with the throat of the bottle to be capped, and a plunger for seating a closure; an elevator for raising a bottle to the filling mechanism; an elevator for raising a bottle to the capping mechanism; and a foot-lever for operating said elevator mechanisms, and for actuating the filling mechanism and the capping mechanism.

l2. In aiilling and capping machine,in combination, a table for the bottles; means for moving the bottles upon said table; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of closures; a slidable plate having an opening adapted to be placed in coincidence with the magazine, also with the throat of the bottle to be capped; a plunger for seating a closure in the throat of the bottle; an elevator mechanism for raising a bottle into engagement with the filling mechanism; an elevator for raising a bottle into engagement with the capping mechanism; acarn-lever having two L-shaped openings therein; a stud fixed with relation to said table, adapted to lie in one of said openings; a`stud fixed with relation to said plunger, adapted to lie in the other of said L- shaped openings; a loop for causing the camlever to engage the slidalole plate; a tilting 'lever for moving said cam-lever; a reciprocating rod for moving said tilting lever; and a foot-lever for moving said reciprocating rod, and for operating said elevator mechanisms.

THEODORE L. VALERIUS.

. Witnesses:

L. GossnLIN, W. W. CORNISH. 

